Grey Towers Hosting Laurel Hill Burial Ground Walk

Get to know Milford’s historic past as Grey Towers Heritage Association welcomes the public to join its annual walking tour of the Laurel Hill Burial Ground at Grey Towers on Saturday, October 4 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Visitors will have the unique opportunity to walk the historic burial ground and stop at 12 designated gravesites at which actors portraying the interred will provide first-person narrative life stories of residents buried from the 1830s to the 1920s. Visitors will also be greeted by Mourning Mary and her friends as they talk about Victorian funeral customs and superstitions. Guests will also enjoy light refreshments, including typical funeral biscuits wrapped in parchment paper.

“It’s an intriguing and fun way to bring history to life,” explains Don Allen, Grey Towers Heritage Association Board member and director of the event. “Our guests learn about early settlers of Milford and the surrounding area in a very personal and dynamic way.”

Actors from American Readers Theater, caped and dressed in black, assume the roles of the interred and tell Milford’s founding families’ stories of everyday life in the 1700s and 1800s: their joys, losses and tragedies.

Also revealed are the funereal sources of famous expressions such as “Saved by the bell.”

“It’s a great way to usher in Halloween and All Souls Day, enjoy the fall foliage and gardens on the 102 acres of the Grey Towers National Historical Site. Guests may also visit the famed Gifford Pinchot ancestral home for a nominal fee,” adds Will Voelkel of GTHA.

Admission to the event is $20 for members, $25 for non-members, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the door. This event is not advised for children under 13. The walk is on uneven ground, so please wear comfortable shoes.

For more information and tickets, visit greytowers.org/events

NAACP Lackawanna to Host Freedom Fund Bingo

The NAACP Lackawanna County Branch will host its 2nd Annual Freedom Fund Bingo fundraiser on October 11, 2025, at the ANZ Hotel, 300 Meadow Ave, Scranton, PA, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with Bingo and dancing continuing until midnight.

This event will serve as both a celebration of the branch’s achievements and a fundraiser supporting its ongoing efforts to advance civil rights and social justice within the community. During the evening, the branch will honor outstanding leaders and organizations that have made meaningful contributions to the cause, while guests enjoy a night of entertainment, networking, and inspiration.

The theme of this year’s event is “Unity in Unsettled Times.” The NAACP emphasizes that, by working together, the community can overcome challenges and barriers to create a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Tickets are priced at $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Sponsors will receive VIP seating, and food and drinks will be available for purchase from the ANZ Hotel during the event.

The Wright Center To Host Tinnitus Support Group

The Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania will meet on Friday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Virtual meeting options are available for those unable to attend in person. There is no fee to attend. New members are welcome.

The support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones, and anyone interested in learning more about this complex audiological and neurological condition. Participants will have the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, and explore coping strategies in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Tinnitus, often described as ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in the ears or head, affects over 50 million adults across the U.S., with many experiencing its effects daily. For some, it can be a temporary nuisance, while for others, it becomes a chronic, life-altering condition.

For more information or to obtain the virtual meeting link, contact Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center for Community Health, at flynnn@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-230-0019.

The Wright Center Hosting Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support Group

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will host the 2025 Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support Group program on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6-8 p.m. in the auditorium at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.

Dr. Lisa Thomas, an oncologist with Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern Pennsylvania, will deliver this year’s keynote address, joined by several breast cancer survivors who will share their personal stories.

The program will also feature Julie Rutkowski of the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation. The foundation was established in 2019 by her daughter, Jessica Rutkowski, after she was diagnosed with stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer. A mother of three, Jessica died in 2021.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.

The Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support Group Committee includes representatives from across The Wright Center enterprise and community partners, united in advancing education, advocacy, and support for those affected by breast cancer.

Marywood University Proudly Presents Lenape/Delaware Leader Curtis Zunigha As Speaker

Event Is Being Co-sponsored by Marywood and the University of Scranton

Curtis Zunigha (Lenape/Delaware) will present “Remembrance & Continuance: The Spirit of Lenapehoking” on Monday, October 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center, on the campus of Marywood University. The program is free and open to the public and is being co-sponsored by Marywood University and the University of Scranton.

Zunigha is an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He will discuss the return of the Lenape descendants to their original homeland, where he and other contemporary Lenape leaders from Delaware Tribal Nations are forming community partnerships that bring Indigenous knowledge to the area’s history and environmental advocacy.

Zunigha is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Lenape Center based in Manhattan, N.Y. The Lenape Center’s mission is continuing Lenapehoking, the original homeland, in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, through community, culture, and the arts. As Director of Agriculture for Lenape Center, Zunigha has initiated a Lenape Seed Garden Project in his home community in Oklahoma. The project will grow ancestral varieties of corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, gourds, and tobacco.

A specialist in Delaware/Lenape culture, language, and traditional practices, Zunigha has 35 years of experience in tribal government & administration, community development, telecommunications, and cultural preservation. He also has presented locally at the University of Scranton and at The Greenhouse Project in Nay Aug Park.

Johnson College Hazleton to Host Open House

Johnson College Hazleton will hold its Fall Open House on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the CAN DO Training Center located inside the Humboldt Industrial Park at 370 Maplewood Drive in Hazle Township.

To register for the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/hazletonopenhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

The event will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted, and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.

Johnson College to Host Fall Flower Design Workshop

Johnson College is now accepting registrations for its Fall Flower Design Workshop, a cozy, hands-on class where participants will create their own floral arrangement using seasonal blooms, rich colors, and natural textures. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the college’s Scranton campus.

The cost is $40. Registration is available at johnson.edu/workshops. For more information, contact the college’s WAVE team at wave@johnson.edu or 570-702-8979.

This workshop is perfect for all skill levels and includes all materials, step-by-step instruction and a completed arrangement to take home and enjoy. Participants will explore the beauty of autumn through floral design, embracing creativity in a welcoming environment.

The workshop is open to individuals ages 10 and up, accompanied by a guardian. No prior experience is necessary, making it ideal for anyone interested in learning the art of flower arranging in a relaxed, seasonal setting.

Greater Scranton YMCA Halloween Costume Drive Underway

The Y is collecting new and gently used Halloween costumes for local families

The Greater Scranton YMCA’s 2025 Halloween Costume Drive is underway, providing families in the community with the opportunity to donate and receive costumes for the upcoming holiday.

The Y is accepting new and gently used costumes of all sizes and for all ages. Donated costumes can be dropped-off at the Y’s Welcome Center, located at 706 North Blakely Street in Dunmore, through Monday, October 6th. Costume pick-up days will be held from October 7–9, giving families in need the chance to find fun, festive costumes free of charge.

“Here at the Y, we believe all children deserve the chance to experience a magical Halloween season,” said Rich Surridge, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “Through donating new or gently used costumes, community members can help make this Halloween special and memorable for local families and children in need.”

The Greater Scranton YMCA is encouraging the community to participate by donating costumes in good condition. Every contribution ensures that more children will have the opportunity to experience Halloween with confidence and excitement.

For more information about the Halloween Costume Drive, contact Tressa Capoccia, Senior Education Director, at tcapoccia@gsymca.org.